Hat press



Dec. 2o,y 1932. M CASSE 1,891,344l

HAT PRESS Filed Feb. 5. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MCASSE Dec. 2o, 1932.

HAT PRESS Filed Feb. 5. 1931 s sheets-sheet 2 Ma rce/ s's M. CASSE ue'cizo, A1932.

HAT PRESS 5 sheets-Sheet s Filed Feb.` 5, 1931 @Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED s'luxrEs MABCELGASS, F ESSONNES, FRANCE mfr Paras Application led February 5, 1981, Seria1 No. 513,570, and in France IFebruary 10, 1930.

As is well known, operating the presses now` in use for hatmaln'ng comprises the following operations:

As soon as the hat is placed in the mould,

the press is shut, which comprises introducing the rubbe bag into the mould. When this operation is effected the press is locked so as to prevent separation of the mould and the bag. Finally the press is put under pressure. This last operation is effected by operating taps which ensure the filling of the bag with water under pressure. After a certain time, left to the judgment of the operator, the aforedescribed operations are effected in l5 the reverse order to removethe hat. l

The present invention has for its object an improved press, adapted'to be used Vchiefly in the hatmaking industry, and the characteristic feature of which consists in that'a single operating lever starts the operation of the press, whose working is then automatic. i

Preferably the lever is so arranged that when the operation of the press is started, said lever is located in front of the press, 'so

as to constitute a safety device which prevents the operator from getting his hands between the mould and the rubber bag. Y

According to another characteristic of the invention, said single operating lever insures the admission of'fluid under pressure under a piston whose displacement'causes, successively, the shutting, the locking of the press, the putting under pressure of said press and the operation of a suitable device adapted to bring back, after a fixed time, the operating lever to its original position.

Other characteristics will appear from the 'following description, with reference to the appended drawings, given merely by way of 0 example, and in which: A

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the improved press, according to my invention, shown at rest;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of said pressA after locking;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the various pipes which ensure the distribution of the fluid under pressure to the different parts ofthe press.

According to the embodiment shown, the

press comprises a framework 1 onwhic'h are fixed two parallel columns 2 and 2a. At their upper end, said columns have a metallic transverse piece 3. The under side 4 of this piece 3 comprises a circular ridge 5 (Fig-2l 55 against which the edge 6 of the rubber bag 7 is pressed through a piece 8 and the annular element 9, fixed to the piece 3, by means of a series of bolts 10. A mould =-11, on which is placed the hat12 to be moulded, is ap- 60 plied against ,piece 8 when the press is locked. This mould is supported by an annular box 13 adapted to be heated by circulating in 14 any iuid, water, hot air, etc. which is introduced into said piece, through a pipe not shown in the drawings.

This annular box, 13 is guided in its vertical displacements along columns 2 and 2 through two slide rods 15 and 15a. VOn this annular-box are articulated about 16 and 16, 70 two rods 17 and 17 a respectively. Each of these rods is articulated at its other end,'in 18 and 18, to-two rods 19--20, 19-20"L re spectively.

Rods 19-19a are themselves pivoted about 75 axes 21-+21, carried by sleeves 22- 22, fixed to columns 2-2L and resting upon framework 1. As for rods 20-20, they are ar'- ticulate'd in 23--23a to a piece 24. This piece 24 is fixed to the upper end of a piston con- 80 sisting of a cylindrical rod 2'5. This piston is adapted to move vertically ina stationary cylinder' 26. Piece 24, fixed to the upper end of the piston is provided with two rods 27 located respectively before and behind the 85 plane of Fig. 2. The lower ends of said rods `27 carry an annular part 28, concentric" with c linder 26, along which lit can slide.

prings 29 are disposed around rods 27.

The press that has just been described in- 9 cludes an operating organ and organs for distributing the power fluid, such as water under pressure, or other, to the diferent parts of the press.

The operating organ consists of a'lever articulated to an axle 30 carried by the crossmember 3. This lever comprises two par- ,allel branches 31 and 31a connected by a horizontal brace rod 32 located iu front of the press. An operating rod 34, whose lower pressure, which is free, without a spring, and

lastly, anexhaust valve 44, submitted to the action of a spring 45. The space above valve 44 communicates through `conduit 46 with the space above valve 43, which in turn communicates through conduit 47 with the space below inlet valve 41. The two lateral valves 41 and 44 Imay be alternately lifted,through rods 48 and 49 by two above mentioned pushbuttons 38 and 39carried by oscillating lever 36. Central valve 43 can be lifted by means of a rod .5.0, articulated to a forked lever 51, oscillating about axis 52 carried by framework 1. This forked lever 51, provided at its end with a` counterweigh-t 53 (Fig. 4) can be lifted through bosses 54, by thrust-collar 28, which is adapted to slide along cylinder 26. Under this oscillating lever 51 is fixed to the framework, a second valve -box 55 coinprising two upper valves 56 and 57 which can be lifted from their seats against the action of springs 58 and 59, by means of two push rods 60 and' 61 articulated to lever 5l,x

' on either side o f axis 52. The space under` valve 56 communicates through conduits 62 w1th the space above valve 57. The space above valve 56 cmmunicates through aperture. 63 with the space under a. valve 64,

40 pressed on its seat by a spring 65.

Lastly, on the side of the framework 1 is iixe'd a cylinder 66, whose longitudinal axis coincides substantially with that of rod 34. In this cylinder 66 moves a piston 67 provided with a piston rod 68. y

At the` upper end of said rod 68 is a cylindrical hole 69, in which can move a push rod ,770, which is pressed in the upward position by a spring 71. Cylinder 66 is so placed Water under pressure also arrives throughA conduit 77 to the space above (valve 56 and under valve 64. kThe space above this valve 64 communicates, on the one hand, through pipe 78, with the upper end of cylinder 66 in the part which contains piston rod 68, and on the other hand, with the inlet pipe 72. An adjustable orifice 8O is provided in said pipe 78. The space under cylinder 66 is connected, through conduit 81, to the spaceabove valve 57 and to the space under valve v56. The space 1under valve 57 communicates, through ay pipe 82. with the exhaust. The working of `the press is as follows;

Thepress being at rest (Fig. 1), piston 67 is in itslower position, Qsince water under pression acts upon its upper side. Said water arrives under valve 64, which it lifts, and flows freely through conduit 78. When .the operf ating lever 31 is lowered, lever 36 swings in the direction of arrow f, and press button 38 lifts inlet valve 41. Waterunder pressure is admitted through conduits 46-47 and pipe 73 into cylinder 26. The main piston 25 is lifted, which causes the annular box 11 to be lifted and consequently closes the press. )Vhen the axes of articulation 21, 18, 16 and 21a, 18a, 16a of the rods 17-19 and 17a-19a respectively are in line (Fig. 2), the locking of the press is ensured.

On its upward stroke, piston 25 drives collar 28 through rod 27. During the last millimeters of its stroke, collar 28 comes into contact with lever 51 which it causes to rotate. Said lever 51 lifts valve 43 through rod 50, and thus causes water under' pressure to be admitted into rubber bag 7, and conse.

quently places the press under pressure. yAt the same time lever 51 has lifted valve 56 from its seat and water lunder pressure has been let in tothe lower part of. cylinder 66, under piston 67.- The two sides of cylinder 67 are thus submitted to the same pressure,

but they have unequal surfaces, since the surlface ofthe upper side of piston 67 has the y l whole cross section ofrod 68 to be deducted that push rod 70 is in contact with the end @from it- Pistonzthus tends t0 rise and the piston 68 reaches the -top ter 'under pressure is effected, through pipe 72 provided with a cock 73a, above inlet valve 41. The-space below valve 41 communicates -througha pipe 74 passing through transverse member 3, with rubber bag 7. A manometer 7 5 located at the end of the pipe makes it I65 possible to control the pressure in said bag:

' water contained .in the upper part of cylinder 66 can escape''onlyfby passing through needle valve 80. Ks the aperture corresponding to this needle valve is adapted to be regulated, 1t will be obvious that thetime that is necessary for the piston -to move up to the upper end of cylinder 66 depends on the regulating ofv said aperture. When push rod 70 comes into contact with lever 36 it` causes the rotation ofthis lever and consequently the closing of lthe inlet valve 41. Piston rod 68, further .moving upward, compresses spring 71 up to the moment when the compression of said spring is such' that push rod 70 lifts, through lever 36, valve 44, thus causing exhaust to begin. The weight of 4piston 25, the

' depenl A shape of the pieces without departing fromemptied for the water contained therein 4can pl raise valve 43 which rests freelyon its seat. The lowering of lever 51 has caused the opening of valve 57 and the connecting to the eX- haust of the space below piston 67 through said valve, and conduit 82. Water under` pressure varriving' under valve 64 causes the quick downward motion of piston 67. As soon as this piston reaches the lower part of its stroke, the press is back to itsstarting position and is ready for a new operation.

It is thus evident that the whole working of the (press is absolutely automatic and only s on the initial operation of lever 31- 31a. The disposition of this lever is so chosen that when itis in the lowered position corresponding to the working position of the press transverse tube 32, carried by this lever, prevents access to the part of the press that is located between rubber bag 7 and annular box 11, which removes all possibility of accidents, it being not possible for the operator to et his hands caught between the pieces. hile I have disclosed what I deem to b'e the preferred embodiment of my device, it

' should be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement disposition and the principle of my invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A hydraulic press of the type describedi rubber bag, a main hydraulic piston adapted to actuate said movable member, a valve element connected to a source of liquid under pressure, for controlling said main piston, manually operable means for operating said valve element, wherebyV the main piston isA caused to apply the movable member against the stationary member, means, operated by said main piston, for sending liquid under pressure through said pipe intol said rubber bag about the end of the stroke of said piston, a release hydraulic piston, a second valve element for controlling said release hydraulic piston, means, actuated by said release piston,

for operating said first mentioned valve ele- Ament, whereby the main piston is caused to cease vto apply the movable member against the stationary member, means, actuated by said release piston for causing liquid under pressure to escape from said rubber bag, and means, actuated by said main piston, for operating said second mentioned valve element, whereby said release piston is brought into 2. A hydraulic `press of the type described especially adapted to the hat making industry, which comprises in combination astationary frame, a stationary member carried by said frame, a rubber bag secured to said member, a pipe opening into said bag, a

movable member disposed under said stationary member andadapted to slide vertically inlgsaid frame, a hat mould secured to saidmovabletgmember opposite said rubber bag, a cylinder, a lmain hydraulic piston in said cylinder; a chamber connected to the v lower endfof said cylinder, an inlet valve for f connecting said chamber to a source ofiuid under pressure, an Vexhaust valve in said cham# ber, a freely moving valve for connecting said chamber to the pipe leading into said rubber bag, manually operable means for opening said inlet valve, whereby the main piston is moved in the upward direction and caused to apply the movable member agalnst the stationary member, a release hydraulic piston, a valve element for controlling said release hydraulic piston, means, actuated by said release piston for closing said inlet valve and` opening said exhaust valve, whereby the main piston vis allowed to move in a downward direction and the water under pressure in the rubber bag can flow out through said freely.

moving valve, and a lever, actuated by said main piston, for operating said valve element, whereby said release piston can be brought into play. l

3. A hydraulic press of the type described especially adapted to the hat making industry, which comprises in comblnation, a stationary frame, a stationary member carried by said frame, a rubber bag secured to saidv member, a pipe opening into said bag, a. mov-v able member disposed under saidwstationary member and adapted to slide vertically in sald rame,a hat' mould secured to said movable member opposite said rubber bag, a mam hydraulic piston in said cylinder adapted to actuate said movable member, a chamber connected to the lower end of said cylinder, an inlet valve for connecting said chamber to a source of liquid under pressure, an exhaust vahe in said chamber, a freely moving valve for connecting said chamber to the pipe leading into said rubber bag, an operating lever, a transversal bar secured to said lever and vadapted to prevent access to the lower part by th'e main piston is caused to move in the` upward direction, af pivoting lever actuated by said main piston and a rod actuated by N ing said ovable member against sai said. pivoting lever for opening said freely moving valve whereby liquid under ressure is sent into said bag, a release di erential hydraulic piston, a valve element for controlling said release piston, a push rod elastically connected to said .release piston adapted to bear against the lower end of said vertically sliding rod and to push it in the upward. direction, whereby the -aforesaid control oscillating lever is caused to close the inlet valve and tb open the exhaust valve, whereby the main piston is allowed to move inthe downward direction, a rod, actuated by said pivoting lever for operating said valve element of therelease piston, w'hereby said release piston is brought into play,'and means for regulating the speed of the motion of said release piston. 'p

4. In a hat press comprisingfa vstationary frame, a stationary member carried by said frame, a movable member adapted to'e slide .vertically, means for reciprocating said movable member, a rubber bag secured to one' of said members, a hat mould secured to the other member opposite said rubber bag, a pipe opening into said rubber bag and means fr supplying fluid under pressure through said pipe into said rubber bag, automatic connecting means between said reciprocating means and said supplying means, whereby fluid under pressure will be conducted intothe rubber bag about the end of the stroke a ply# a.. tionary member.

5. In a hat press comprising a stationary frame, a stationary member carried bysad frame, amovable member adapted to slide vertically, means for reciprocating said movable member, a rubber bag secured to one of said members, a hat mould secured tothe other member opposite said rubber bag, a pipe opening into said rubber bag and means for supplying fluid under pressure through l said pipe into said rubber bag, Iautomatic connecting means between saidreciprocating y,means and said supplying means, whereby Y rubber bag about the end of the stroke applying said movable member against saidy acens pipe opening into said-rubber bag and means or supplying fluid under pressure into said rubber bag, a chamber, an inlet valve for. connecting-said chamber toa source of fluid under pressure, any exhaust valve in said y chamber, a freely movable valve for connectin'g said chamber to the pipe leading into said rubber bag, manually operable means for actuating Y-said inlet valve, and means actuated from said reciprocating means wherebysaid freely movablevalve will be opened about the end of the stroke applying said movable member against said statlonary members, said inlet valve will be closed and said exhaust valve will be o ened about the beginning of the return stro eo said movable member, whereby the uid under pressure in the rubber bag can flow out through said freely movable valve.

7. In ahat press comprising a stationary frame, a stationary member carried by said frame, a movable member adapted to slide vertically, means for-,reciprocating said movable member, a rubber bag secured to one -f said members, a hat mould secured to the other member opposite said rubber bag, a 4

pipe opening into said rubber bag and means for supplying fluid 'under pressure into said rubber ag, connecting means between said reciprocating means and said -supplying s means whereby iiuid under pressure will be conducted into the rubber bag about the end of the stroke applying said movable member against said stationary member, a release differential h draulic piston, a valve element for contro ing said release piston, escaping means actuated by said release, piston, wherebytheiluid under pressure can escape from' said rubber bag, said valve .element being operated by said movable member whereby said release piston is brought into play.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MARCEL OASS.

iluidunder pressure will be'admitted'into the -Y i will automatically escape from said `rubber .bagabout the beginning of the return stroke of said movable member. 

